Best institutions to study Machine Tool Technology/Machinist
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to plan, manufacture, assemble, test, and repair parts, mechanisms, machines, and structures in which materials are cast, formed, shaped, molded, heat treated, cut, twisted, pressed, fused, stamped or worked.
228 U.S. institutions graduated 3,489 Machine Tool Technology/Machinist students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 48.0501, a specialization of Precision Metal Working (CIP 48.05), and leads most directly to the Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic occupation (BLS SOC 51-4081).
About Machine Tool Technology/Machinist programs
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to plan, manufacture, assemble, test, and repair parts, mechanisms, machines, and structures in which materials are cast, formed, shaped, molded, heat treated, cut, twisted, pressed, fused, stamped or worked.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Machine Tool Technology/Machinist program, a part of Precision Metal Working, prepares students to apply technical knowledge and skills in the manufacturing and repair of parts and machinery. This program is ideal for individuals interested in precision production and those who enjoy working with machines and tools to create and refine mechanical components.
Students in this program will gain core skills in monitoring, active listening, and critical thinking. Coursework typically includes reading blueprints, inspecting workpieces for defects, and adjusting machine operations to ensure precision and quality in metalworking tasks.
Credentials awarded
What Machine Tool Technology/Machinist graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year1,372 graduates / yr · 123 institutions39%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years1,263 graduates / yr · 136 institutions36%
- Associate's degree723 graduates / yr · 122 institutions21%
- Award of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years68 graduates / yr · 8 institutions1.9%
- Award of less than 12 weeks63 graduates / yr · 7 institutions1.8%
Graduates over time
Machine Tool Technology/Machinist completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 3,003 |
| 2013 | 3,831 |
| 2014 | 4,296 |
| 2015 | 4,542 |
| 2016 | 4,736 |
| 2017 | 4,268 |
| 2018 | 4,179 |
| 2019 | 4,273 |
| 2020 | 3,738 |
| 2021 | 3,286 |
| 2022 | 3,183 |
| 2023 | 3,090 |
| 2024 | 3,538 |
| 2025 | 3,489 |
Top 50 institutions for Machine Tool Technology/Machinist, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wichita State University - Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology Wichita, KSPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 135 | 43% | — | $30,515 |
| 2 | Northeast Technology Center Pryor, OKPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 116 | 97% | — | $29,365 |
| 3 | Colorado Mesa University Grand Junction, COPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 110 | 41% | — | — |
| 4 | Texas State Technical College Waco, TXPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 75 | 46% | — | $35,720 |
| 5 | Amarillo College Amarillo, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 69 | 32% | — | $48,263 |
| 6 | Anoka Technical College Anoka, MNPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 62 | 66% | — | $49,632 |
| 7 | Tri - County Technical College Pendleton, SCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 61 | 42% | — | — |
| 8 | Davis Technical College Kaysville, UTPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 53 | 57% | — | $45,350 |
| 9 | Central Community College Grand Island, NEPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 51 | 48% | — | $39,409 |
| 10 | De Anza College Cupertino, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 49 | 68% | — | — |
| 11 | College of Western Idaho Nampa, IDPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 49 | 31% | — | $39,310 |
| 12 | El Camino Community College District Torrance, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 46 | 42% | — | — |
| 13 | Florence - Darlington Technical College Florence, SCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 46 | 34% | — | $34,948 |
| 14 | Piedmont Technical College Greenwood, SCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 46 | 33% | — | $34,928 |
| 15 | Orange Coast College Costa Mesa, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 45 | 48% | — | — |
| 16 | Meridian Community College Meridian, MSPublicAward of at least 2 but less than 4 academic yearsAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 42 | 34% | — | $31,988 |
| 17 | Santa Ana College Santa Ana, CAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 40 | 31% | — | $45,864 |
| 18 | Lake Washington Institute of Technology Kirkland, WAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 40 | 37% | — | — |
| 19 | Santa Rosa Junior College Santa Rosa, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 39 | 37% | — | — |
| 20 | Southwestern Illinois College Belleville, ILPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 38 | 36% | — | $31,692 |
| 21 | Southeast Community College Area Lincoln, NEPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 36 | 38% | — | $49,114 |
| 22 | Linn - Benton Community College Albany, ORPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 36 | 29% | — | $42,085 |
| 23 | Northwest Mississippi Community College Senatobia, MSPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 35 | 45% | — | $36,303 |
| 24 | Truckee Meadows Community College Reno, NVPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 35 | 32% | — | — |
| 25 | Northeastern Technical College Cheraw, SCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 34 | 21% | — | — |
| 26 | St Philip's College San Antonio, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 32 | 28% | — | — |
| 27 | Spokane Community College Spokane, WAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 32 | 33% | — | $35,309 |
| 28 | Chabot College Hayward, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 30 | 47% | — | — |
| 29 | Laney College Oakland, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 30 | 31% | — | — |
| 30 | Central New Mexico Community College Albuquerque, NMPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 29 | 31% | — | $42,162 |
| 31 | Indian Capital Technology Center - Muskogee Muskogee, OKPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 29 | 100% | — | $23,518 |
| 32 | Everett Community College Everett, WAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of less than 12 weeks | 28 | 37% | — | — |
| 33 | Itawamba Community College Fulton, MSPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 27 | 50% | — | $35,061 |
| 34 | Dixie Technical College Saint George, UTPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 27 | 77% | — | — |
| 35 | Modesto Junior College Modesto, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 26 | 30% | — | — |
| 36 | Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis, INPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 26 | 40% | — | $41,767 |
| 37 | North Iowa Area Community College Mason City, IAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 26 | 61% | — | — |
| 38 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Murfreesboro Murfreesboro, TNPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 26 | 76% | — | $42,688 |
| 39 | Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology Lancaster, PAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 25 | 71% | — | $52,298 |
| 40 | Spartanburg Community College Spartanburg, SCPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 25 | 28% | — | $38,147 |
| 41 | Mountainland Technical College Lehi, UTPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 25 | 84% | — | $42,032 |
| 42 | Lake Area Technical College Watertown, SDPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 24 | 73% | — | $43,436 |
| 43 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Shelbyville Shelbyville, TNPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 24 | 81% | — | $40,605 |
| 44 | Waukesha County Technical College Pewaukee, WIPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 24 | 44% | — | $43,380 |
| 45 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology Nashville Nashville, TNPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 24 | 70% | — | $34,295 |
| 46 | Arkansas State University - Beebe Beebe, ARPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 23 | 42% | — | — |
| 47 | State Technical College of Missouri Linn, MOPublicAssociate's | 23 | 84% | — | $47,325 |
| 48 | Grayson College Denison, TXPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 23 | 40% | — | — |
| 49 | SOWELA Technical Community College Lake Charles, LAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate'sAward of less than 12 weeksAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 22 | 43% | — | — |
| 50 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Memphis Memphis, TNPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 22 | 55% | — | $34,750 |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Precision Metal Working field (CIP 48.05) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 40 states & territories
Where Machine Tool Technology/Machinist graduates come from. Each state links to all Precision Metal Working programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 51-4081, Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Machine Tool Technology/Machinist program can pursue careers as machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, with an annual opening of approximately 12,800 positions. The median wage for these roles is around $46,060, and a high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for entry.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 48.0501
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plasticprimary SOC 51-4081 | $47,180 | -0.5% Little or no change | ~12,800 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Machinists SOC 51-4041 | $58,750 | 0.0% Little or no change | ~29,500 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic SOC 51-4031 | $46,330 | -12.1% Decline | ~14,400 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic SOC 51-4021 | $47,720 | +1.2% Little or no change | ~6,500 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic SOC 51-4033 | $46,550 | -12.0% Decline | ~5,500 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic SOC 51-4023 | $50,140 | -8.3% Decline | ~1,900 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All Other SOC 51-4199 | $45,950 | -9.5% Decline | ~1,700 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic SOC 51-4034 | $50,620 | -13.6% Decline | ~1,500 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic SOC 51-4191 | $48,750 | -12.8% Decline | ~1,200 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic SOC 51-4035 | $52,800 | -14.4% Decline | ~1,100 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic SOC 51-4022 | $49,030 | -18.9% Decline | ~600 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic SOC 51-4192 | $63,870 | -5.4% Decline | ~500 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic SOC 51-4032 | $49,080 | -19.6% Decline | ~400 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Machine Tool Technology/Machinist programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Inspect workpieces for defects, and measure workpieces to determine accuracy of machine operation, using rules, templates, or other measuring instruments.
- Position, adjust, and secure stock material or workpieces against stops, on arbors, or in chucks, fixtures, or automatic feeding mechanisms, manually or using hoists.
- Read blueprints or job orders to determine product specifications and tooling instructions and to plan operational sequences.
- Select, install, and adjust alignment of drills, cutters, dies, guides, and holding devices, using templates, measuring instruments, and hand tools.
- Observe machine operation to detect workpiece defects or machine malfunctions, adjusting machines as necessary.
- Set up and operate machines, such as lathes, cutters, shears, borers, millers, grinders, presses, drills, or auxiliary machines, to make metallic and plastic workpieces.
Tools and technology used
Other Precision Metal Working specializations
The 8 other 6-digit CIP codes under Precision Metal Working (CIP 48.05).
- Welding Technology/CIP 48.0508
Welder 64,198 graduates / yr911 institutions - Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Machinist Technology/CIP 48.0510
CNC Machinist 2,248 graduates / yr166 institutions - Machine Shop Technology/CIP 48.0503
Assistant 1,542 graduates / yr87 institutions - Metal FabricatorCIP 48.0511588 graduates / yr24 institutions
- Tool and Die Technology/CIP 48.0507
Technician 423 graduates / yr35 institutions - Sheet Metal Technology/CIP 48.0506
Sheetworking 415 graduates / yr18 institutions - Precision Metal WorkingCIP 48.0599296 graduates / yr16 institutions
- Ironworking/CIP 48.0509
Ironworker limited data102 graduates / yr2 institutions
Common questions
What types of credentials can I earn?+
You can earn various credentials, including awards of less than 1 academic year, awards of 1 to 2 academic years, or an Associate's degree.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in monitoring, critical thinking, active learning, and various technical skills related to machine operation.
What is the job outlook for machinists?+
The job outlook shows little or no change, with a projected annual opening of 12,800 positions.
How many colleges offer this program in the U.S.?+
There are 228 colleges in the U.S. offering the Machine Tool Technology/Machinist program.
What is the CIP code for Machine Tool Technology/Machinist?+
Machine Tool Technology/Machinist is CIP 48.0501 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Precision Metal Working (CIP 48.05). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to plan, manufacture, assemble, test, and repair parts, mechanisms, machines, and structures in which materials are cast, formed, shaped, molded, heat treated, cut, twisted, pressed, fused, stamped or worked.
How many institutions offer Machine Tool Technology/Machinist programs?+
228 U.S. institutions reported Machine Tool Technology/Machinist graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 40 states & territories, awarding 3,489 credentials in the year. That is 4.8% of all Precision Metal Working graduates.
How much do Machine Tool Technology/Machinist graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic occupation, which Machine Tool Technology/Machinist most directly leads to, pays a median of $47,180 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Precision Metal Working field report median earnings of $38,653 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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